Columbia City Ale House has been a favorite of ours for a while - in the early days I was ALL ABOUT the Green Chile Tuna Melt which is amazing but I'm on this big "Caesar Salad with the Blackened Salmon added on top" kick. It's the best blackened salmon I've had anywhere- they are not afraid to provide flavor with a lil bit of heat. ANYWAY place is awesome and the staff is cool. Check it out! read more

Columbia City Ale House - Caesar Salad with Blackened Salmon Filet added - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We got the HH fries which were good and my partner liked his beer. I ordered a gin and tonic basically and it was a heavy pour. It also came in a pint glass lol. Bang for your buck here for sure if you're just getting drinks and snacks. Servers were cheery and seemed to know or be friendly with most of the patrons. They had the game on with closed captions too, which was nice. This is more neighborhood bar for middle aged folks mostly, which was very chill and a solid choice for our vibe that night. read more

Columbia City Ale House - Rosemary gin limeade and beer - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love this place, I have a lot of empathy for waiters. My son is a waiter. I don't know why they only had one waiter working tonight, Wednesday , August 27, 2025. The solo waiter was really busy. My friend has Alzheimer's, there's no way he could've known that, but he was very impatient with her when she was slow to order. I understand that, there's no way he could've known about her illness. But when I politely ordered a second order of french fries he told me to "Calm Down," I don't think any waiter has ever said that to me. I was not frantic. I wasn't upset. I did not need to "calm down." I asked very politely for another order of french fries. It wasn't easy to get his attention, I know he was busy. But to have a waiter, tell me to calm down was rude. I'm old, I'm white, I get that. But that is NO reason to be rude to me. I'm a very nice human being, I treat people with absolute respect. We will not be coming back here anytime soon. I guess it doesn't matter at all, because all we ordered were drinks and fries but we will not be back. Do not ever tell customers to "Calm Down" for God's sake. :-/ That is an insult. read more

Amazing service and sandwiches! I always feel so welcomed by staff and get so excited to come back. My friends from out of town also enjoy coming here when they're in town! read more

Have been coming here for almost 20 years and while ownership may have changed, their reliably warm service and delicious food has only gotten better. Best tuna melt in the city. Reuben is also A+. I always feel so welcome and taken care of here - glad it's my neighborhood pub :) read more

Good atmosphere, good beer, good service. Did not order food but the polite bartender and the refreshing, cold beer was enough to give this place 4 stars. read more

A very nonsense neighborhood pub sort of vibe. Lots of locals, watching sports and enjoying themselves. Service here is friendly and make you feel like you're at home. Food is comforting. I think if this looks like your sort of vibe, you'll know what to expect, and you'll enjoy it. read more

Columbia City Ale House - Chopped Cheese - Could see coming back here JUST for this. - Great! - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We love the food here--we didn't come in the first time expecting great food--just a beer and a nice vibe, but we keep going back for some great meals--esp black bean burger, tomato soup and grilled cheese, gumbo, Rueben, fries--everything we've tried is great. Note that Yelp shows they're open every day for lunch but it's only Thurs-Sunday, per their website and finding them closed yesterday --Wednesday). read more

Went here yesterday with a group of four friends wanting to have a drink, a bite and to watch a bit of the Seahawks game because Rookies had no seating available. There was about 10 people inside and as soon as we entered and asked if we could take a table, the man behind the bar without even muttering a hello when we walked in shouts at our direction "I'm not doing this! I'm not doing this. I'm the only one working". Thoroughly confused at what's going on, we kind of stood there frozen for a second and he kept saying "I'm not doing this" and shaking his head. We would have got it if he was feeling overwhelmed being the only server but to just automatically shout that was ghastly. And it wasn't lost on us that we were a group of all poc and everyone in there at that time was white. He was a man of color himself but this interaction it seemed so....befitting of a gentrified neighborhood in Seattle read more

Good food, good draft beers and good service add up to a great experience. The fries are really good and we loved the mahi fish tacos. But hey, could you guys cut those cherry tomatoes on the salad please? When we try to cut them with the provided butter knife they squirt all over. read more

During my city outing I took the link down to Columbia City and had lunch here. I drank a winter ale alongside my reuben sandwich and potato salad. YUM! The bartender was friendly and accommodating. I look forward to a return in the future. read more

Columbia City Ale House - reuben à la carte: potato salad - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great neighborhood place with excellent food and drink. Emily is awesome! I can't remember anyone else's name, but they were good too. Definitely will be back when Emily is there. read more

Our family have been regulars at this little pub for many years now. The female staff and owner have always been amazing to us and the food is really fairly good. Over time I've been noticing a trend with a newer younger male staff, so we avoid the place when he is there. I see some other reviewers here have had the same issues with the same young man. Finding it's not quite the home for us it once was. Try their Reuben if you get a chance. Hopefully staff changes over soon enough and we will start going again. read more

Related to the 74th St. Ale House, the Columbia City Ale House is a smaller venue serving the local Columbia City residents. Very similar in many ways and unique vibe in other ways. Definitely would be a regular here if I lived closer or within Columbia City. What stands out is the original daily soup specials, great tap beers especially the Guinness. Definitely check this place out if your not already a regular. read more

Always a solid spot to grab a meal and pair it with a drank! Their patty melt is a fav & always hits the spot. Very friendly, warm service - lucky to have them in the 'hood! read more

Columbia City Ale House - patty melt FTW! - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The most delicious tuna fish sandwich I have ever had in my life. Absolutely worth the trip!

Awesome service and great atmosphere of friendly staff and patrons. The wait staff were attentive to our needs and asked how to help.

This is a small cozy local bar that had super friendly service. It was by no means crowded, but if you were to go when it is crowded, the tables are very tight together so it could feel too cramped. As soon as we sat down, the bartender came over with menus and greeted us. He did a great job of checking in on us to make sure we were ready to order and that we were able to order again when our drinks were getting low. We were pretty much the last ones there and he even started chatting with us, which shows how friendly the staff was overall. Great place for a chill environment, watch whatever sports were on tv, and have a beer or two. read more

Friendly staff, nice assortment of beverages on tap for a smaller place. The gumbo was outstanding, more meat than expected, nice flavor, not too spicy. Great neighborhood spot for sure. read more

This spot has made it into our regular rotation. Good happy hour. Excellent fresh tasty food. Great drink options. I like the Apple salad with a blackened chicken add on with a cool glass of cider. read more

A comfortable go to place for community and great food. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Food is always fresh, consistent and good. read more

A fair locals alehouse. Went here to have a quick beer while waiting for a friend. There are decent beers, ciders and a full bar. Food is served, but I didn't get a chance to sample anything. Service is fairly fast and courteous. Inside it's a little cozy, but not loud, so it's easy to have a conversation without having to scream at each other. Nothing extraordinary going on here that I noticed but it's a cool place to grab a drink qucik cold brewski. I come to Seattle once a year so I'll drop by again and try the food! Cheers! read more

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Always a pleasure to stop in here for food and drinks. Great food great service and a welcoming atmosphere.

I like the grit and vibe of this place. It still feels like a neighborhood spot. They have good food and lots of drink options. I just wish it was a little warmer inside on a cold winter's day. Nothing a little of their soup couldn't warm up, tho :) Thanks for the great service read more

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A great, cozy neighborhood hangout with respectable bar food. Would recommend. One of several Columbia City places that are great for a beer and a burger. The gumbo is good too. read more

When adventure means trying a new place to eat in your home city, I ventured to Columbia City Ale House. The service was grand. The atmosphere is, well, like an ale house. The crab and pork cake was excellent. The sambal was very spicy, so go easy. I folded the pita like a soft taco and it worked to contain the fillings. The side salad was delicious; I finished that first. Yum! I'll be back. read more

Columbia City Ale House - Crab and pork cake. - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We were looking for a place in Columbia City that offered good beer and good food. Great news! There seems to be a lot of options for that in this city. We decided on Columbia City Ale House. We split the Southwest steak sandwich with the gumbo. The sandwich came on a crispy on the outside but soft on the inside baguette. The steak was cooked perfectly- medium- and it was topped with a pico de gallo and fresh cilantro. Very good! It was big enough for my husband to split. We ordered the gumbo for our side and it was thick like gravy and nice an spicy. YUM! read more

Columbia City Ale House - Southwest Steak sandwich and gumbo - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best eatery in Columbia City. Great food, great beer, great service, and a great neighborhood vibe. (The 21 and over is a plus!)

Today was my second time visiting the Ale House in Columbia City and both experiences were great. My first visit I had the green chile tuna melt with a side of gumbo and that was special. The sandwich was delicious and flavorful while the gumbo was spicy and meaty. I came to the Ale House the first time because I heard they were known for their sandwiches and it was overwhelming deciding which sandwich to go with. The Green Chile Tuna Melt was amazing and you can't go wrong with it. The Ale House have won awards off the gumbo and I know why, because it's something I have never tasted before. My second visit I didn't want a heavy sandwhich and went with the jerk chicken strips off the appetizer menu and surprisingly I received about 7-8 strips small sized but were hot and delicious. The chicken was good quality chicken, battered and deep fried in a seasoned panko. The ale house always has a great selection of beer, mostly local and if you are a beer lover like myself you came to the right place. I didn't know after checking in to a place twice you become a regular so I guess you can call me a regular at the Columbia City Ale House. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

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For locals by locals. Hidden in downtown Columbia City but a staple for us on a Saturday evening.

I thought of a 4.5 so round up ensued! Strolled in here last night for late nite chilling with me, myself and I. Took a seat on the north picture wall and waited until Connie came by. I asked her what she would recommend for good starter beers-----"I'll be right back!" was all she said. She brought back samples (shot glasses?) of Alpine Hefeweizen and Panorama Wheat... *sip, taste* Connie comes back---she so good at reading facial expressions and stuff(!) "Didn't like it?" Me: "It was pretty mild, subtle, bland..." Her: "Ok, be right back!" (Note: each time she came by and left, she always donned such a sweet smile! Awesome). She brought back 2 more samples. This time a Hard [Apple] Cider and Mac & Jacks---FOUR total samples, I thought how cool! *sip, taste* The first 2 were tied for 3rd (didn't like those), Mac and Jacks was uniquely different for a 2nd place and farther up 1st place was the Hard Cider---because I liked that cider flavor the most. Mental note: so far I'm not liking beer, yet... So I tell Connie gimme a 10oz Hard Cider and I'll also try the Famous Chicken Breast Sandwich with Tim's chips. Wonderful service by Connie and darn good sandwich. The other server working wasn't personable at all. He came by me once to drop off my order and it was almost like a drop-and-dash how fast he did... but Connie was awesome, the vibe here is pretty wonderful to relax and unwind with a subtle homey feel to it---maybe it's because I live up the street. Definitely want to try that Black Bean Pita Veggie Burger next time. read more

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I wasn't too hungry when I came here so I only got a bowl of soup and a beer. They had Fuller's ESB on tap, so I got that to drink. For my soup, it was a potato, ham, and bacon soup. It was served with 3 slices of sourdough bread, which I thought made a good addition to the soup. The main reason I am giving this place 3 stars is I thought their food options aren't great. I tend to like places with more variety of food options. read more

Columbia City Ale House - Potato, Ham, and bacon soup with a Fuller's ESB - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We really like the food here and the people are always very nice . Of course the beer is fabulous! Some of my local favorites! I always feel relaxed and at home. 5 stars all the way!!!!! read more

"Kill the Keg" Tuesdays. $1 off keg of their choice, so the pints were $5 each. That's their Tuesday night special. Came here last night with a group of four. Poor waitress, seemed like she was the only one serving last night. Service was slow, but she warned us in advance so we didn't mind. We had drinks served real quick, but it took a while to get our food order in. Our waitress was the sweetest lady though! I felt bad they were such short handed and busy on a Tuesday night. We ordered: - Monte Cristo - chicken sandwich - tuna melt - lean burger I got the burger with a side salad and both were tasty! They don't serve fries here, their sides are potato salad or chips. I didn't try the salad, but everyone who got it said it was better than the chips, so get the potato salad! Average price of sandwiches were around $14.00. Food was good, and service was friendly! read more

Columbia City Ale House - Lean burger - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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There's a few tables out front for COVID seating. There's a code to look up the menu. Pretty easy and simple! How cute they serve alcohol in mason jars. There selection, with drinks and food, is pretty limited as of now but don't let that keep you from coming and trying what they do have. I got the back bean burger. It's served in a pita which is pretty unique and made it a little messy and complicated to eat but absolutely delicious. You can tell the burger is made in house. It's light and and not compact. I got it with the potato salad which was super good with the red peppers and onion. I'm a little bummed they don't have fries and the only side options are Tim's chips or potato salad. My partner liked the steak sandwich! It was packed full! Portions here are very generous. Our server was so friendly and gave great recommendations. read more

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Food amazing! Service is great, bartenders are ALWAYS friendly and attentive. Drinks are good too

Consistently some of the best food around. The tuna melt is amazing- I've been getting it for years at this point. Everyone is always super friendly and they've got some delicious beers. read more

Columbia City Ale House, are you the house that built me? What sort of treasures do you hold inside? After multiple visits here, I would say it's BEER! Overall, I would give Columbia City Ale House a 3/3.5 star rating. This is a casual, neighborhood bar located in South Seattle on Rainier Ave, close by Tutta Bella and Geraldine's Counter. The ambiance is low-key and relaxed, with friendly customer service. If you're not a fan of beer, this might not be the place for you (since the only type of alcohol they serve is wine and beer). Despite the many beer options, Columbia City Ale House unfortunately lacks in the food department. In terms of quality and choices, it's somewhat limited and not terribly impressive. As an example, they have potato chips, instead of french fries (which I would assume is on any normal bar menu). When I'm craving french fries, it's hard to swerve me from that yearning. Sadly, potato chips that taste like they're from a bag are unfortunately not going to cut it. I've also tried their regular menu eats, including their different sandwiches, gumbo, and salad options, which were okay and ordinary. However, Columbia City Ale House is worth a try if you're in the area due to its wide range of beers and friendly wait staff. For my last visit with friends, we ordered the following: --Backthorn Hard Cidar (~$9): A sweet, refreshing cidar in a huge bottle! --Bayern Bavarian Pilsner (~$7): A light golden colored beer, with a slightly bready and citrus bitter taste. --Pyramid Hefenweser (~$8/$9): An unfiltered wheat ale that is pretty smooth. --Baked Three Cheese Focaccia ($8): Yummy cheese and bread goodness (Small to medium size plate of focaccia with herb & roasted garlic butter topped with fontina, mozzarella, and parmesan. Includes a side of delicious marinara dipping sauce). read more

Columbia City Ale House - Window seat view of restaurant - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love this low-key spot in Colombia City. Beers are a bit overpriced, and minimal taps, but it's just got a nice vibe and a classic wooden bartop that makes you feel at home. The burger is great, the goat cheese salad is really lovely... that's all I've tried but they are both high quality. Pop on in, it's a nice quiet spot for a pint and a bite. read more

Columbia City Ale House - The house burger. Elongated shape on a baguette style bread, lots of onions and peppers. Good value and taste. - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been to this restaurant multiple times and always had a good time. However, the bar lady working today - who I've never seen before - was extremely rude and racist to me. She, for reasons that are unclear to me, snatched my beer from me when she came back from serving customers outside and told me to leave immediately, and then threatened to call the police (I am a black male). I did not do anything wrong, except for having a friendly but pointed conversation with a guy sitting next to me (who was also black). Maybe she found that threatening? Or maybe she is just toxic and takes out the stress of running a restaurant during COVID on random customers? Reading some of the previous reviews, looks like there is a pattern here of a person who appears to be her treating customers with random, intense levels of hostility. A group of retired nurses wrote recently they were berated aggressively in-front of the whole restaurant after requesting change to pay for parking (she also yelled at me in front of the whole restaurant). What's her issue lol? Anyway, I found her Karen-like behavior extremely disappointing. It was so bad that a person who witnessed it took me to a neighboring bar and bought me a drink. Edit: After looking at their website, turns out the lady who treated me so poorly is the OWNER. So beware her character before you spend your money at this restaurant. read more